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Colorado Gun Possession Laws (2026)

Conditional: Red-flag law (Extreme Risk Protection Orders).

Red-flag law (Extreme Risk Protection Orders). 15-round magazine limit — large-capacity magazines may not be sold, transferred or possessed unless continuously owned since July 1, 2013. No general assault-weapon possession ban. SCHEDULED: on or after Aug 1, 2026 (SB25-003, C.R.S. 18-12-116) it becomes unlawful to manufacture, distribute, transfer, sell or purchase a "specified semiautomatic firearm" — a semiauto rifle or shotgun with a detachable magazine, or a gas-operated semiauto handgun with a detachable magazine. Excluded: .22-and-under rimfire-only guns, bolt/pump/lever/slide actions, fixed magazines capped at 15 rounds, recoil-operated single/double-action handguns (most common pistols), ~35 named legacy models, and antiques/curios. To buy one you must first get a firearms safety course eligibility card from your county sheriff (valid 5 years; applications opened July 20, 2026 at coloradofss.com), then complete CPW hunter education plus a 4-hour Basic course, or a 12-hour Extended course, within the prior 5 years (90% minimum exam score). Fees: $52 remitted to CPW plus a sheriff processing fee that varies by county; CPW warns some sheriffs will not review applications until Aug 1 and others are not accepting them at all. IMPORTANT: possessing a specified semiautomatic firearm you already own is NOT restricted — the law restricts acquisition — but on or after Aug 1 you may sell or transfer one only to an out-of-state resident, a federally licensed dealer, or a buyer who meets the training requirement. Violation is a class 2 misdemeanor; a second offense is a class 6 felony. Separately, effective July 1, 2026 (HB25-1133), retail ammunition may be sold only to buyers 21+ with government-issued photo ID and may not be displayed within customer reach without staff assistance. In-person exceptions cover 18-20-year-olds buying at a shooting range for use only there, members and veterans of the U.S. military or Colorado National Guard, hunter-education-certified buyers, people protected by a protection order, and anyone born on or before Jan 28, 2007 (that exception repeals Jan 28, 2028); on-duty peace officers are exempt and rimfire ammunition is entirely carved out.

Official source: cpw.state.co.us →

General legal information, not legal advice — verify important decisions with a licensed attorney.